One retail executive has called it a bloodbath, and the retail landscape is about to get uglier.
American e-commerce powerhouse Amazon.com Inc. is launching online grocery and auto shops on Thursday, adding to an array of category additions this year that has included toys, beauty and home goods. The company is aggressively pushing into Canada, more than doubling its offerings this year, with 14 new kinds of products.
“We’re working to deliver an unmatched selection of everyday essentials and must-have products,” said Alexandre Gagnon, country manager for Amazon.ca.
Amazon’s expansion – especially in the cutthroat grocery segment – means competition will become even more fierce, at a time when many retailers are lagging behind when it comes to e-commerce. None of the conventional grocers offers online sales in a major way while discounter Wal-Mart Canada Corp. is just ramping up its online grocery sales.
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